HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 14, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team split its doubleheader with Empire 8 Conference rival St. John Fisher College at Dobbelaar Field on April 14. The Ducks took Game One, 2-1, off a homerun from graduate student Matt Glassman (Basking Ridge, N.J.), but dropped the night cap, 11-5. Stevens is now 18-11 overall this season and 4-4 in the Empire 8.

Glassman put the Ducks on the board first in the opener with a two-out, two-run homerun to right field in the bottom of the third inning for the eventual game-winner. Freshman Marc Calleo (Bayville, N.Y.) was on base for the round tripper after reaching by way of a walk.

Fisher answered back with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, cutting its deficit to 2-1. The Cardinals, however, could not put more than one runner into scoring position for the remainder of the contest.

The Ducks only managed three hits in the Game One victory, but Glassman's long ball proved to be the different in the game offensively. Sophomore Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) and junior Michael Donovan (Mendham, N.J.) picked up the other hits for Stevens.

Allen also earned the start on the mound and picked up his third victory of the season in six innings of work. The sophomore scattered five hits and struck out four batters in the win. He also walked four but stranded eight Fisher players on base. Junior Tyler Courter (Glenwood, N.J.) picked up his third save of the season by fanning one batter in the seventh inning.

Fisher's Jason Beaumont kept the Stevens hitters off balance for the most part, striking out nine batters and walking one in the loss.

In Game Two, Stevens ran into another strong arm on the Cardinals' staff in sophomore Justin D'Amato. D'Amato lasted six innings and earned his seventh victory of the season, striking out eight. The lefty held a no-hit bid through five innings and retired 13 consecutive batters at one point before sophomore Curt Lowenstein (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) singled to lead off the sixth. Lowenstein singled twice in the night cap.

Stevens never led in Game Two but brought the game to within one run on two different occasions. After breaking up the no-hitter, the Ducks would come around to score, making it a 2-1 ball game in favor of Fisher,  after senior Tom Phillips (Spring Lake, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on the throw home. He then stole third and scored by a single from freshman Ryan Mannello (Staten Island, N.Y.). Phillips now sits just one swipe away from tying the career stolen bases record at Stevens. Mannello picked up two hits in the game.

Fisher plated three runs in the top of the seventh, but the Ducks answered back with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning, bringing the contest to a 5-4 score. The big blow in the inning for Stevens came on a two-run homer by senior Ryan Kiczek (Rutherford, N.J.) after Courter doubled to lead off the inning.

The Cardinals put the game out of reach in the eighth and ninth innings, crossing three runs in each frame to come away with the 11-5 bounce back victory.

Freshman Brian Hennelly (Holbrook, N.Y.) doubled and scored in Game Two, while Allen drove in a run and stole a base in a 1-for-3 night cap.

Sophomore Gary Boardman (Staten Island, N.Y.) suffered the loss in Game Two, tossing 5.1 strong innings. Boardman surrendered five hits and two earned runs while sitting down three batters. Senior Chris Tucci (Calverton, N.Y.) was the first out of the bullpen and allowed a run in one inning of work before freshman John Howarth (Fanwood, N.J.) got the call into the game. Howarth allowed two runs in the seventh inning. Seniors John Martelle (Colonia, N.J.) and Vincent Vinci (Howell, N.J.) and freshman Casey Conroy (High Bridge, N.J.) closed out the game for Stevens.

Seven walks by the Ducks' staff led directly to three runs in the Game Two defeat, while an error in the eighth allowed two more runs to score.

Stevens and Fisher will tangle tomorrow for a nine-inning game starting at 12 p.m. The Ducks will then have a week off before hosting Utica College on the 21st and 22nd of April.